A young girl’s gift from her dead father leads to an adventure of her own in Fleur Hitchcock’s Dear Scarlett.

Scarlett’s father died some years ago and all she knows about him is that he was a thief, or so she thinks. A delivery of his old pick locks and a box when she turns eleven brings her father’s memory back to life and she is determined to find out what her father meant her to do with them.

A great deal of comedy follows as she starts off down the wrong road stealing penguins from a local zoo with a friend.

But soon it becomes clear what she is meant to do and who she must overcome to do it.

The book is funny, well written and really quite sweet. It contains a surprising amount of emotional depth for a children’s novel and delivers a wild ride to the ending too.

Children and adults alike seem to have really taken to this book this year and it is easy to see why. The relationships between Scarlett and her parents and her new family forming around her are truly touching and provide the book with an extra layer of interest.

I would recommend this book to young people as a fun read with a lot of heart (without getting soppy).

By Holly Cuthbert

It can also be borrowed from The Hive as well as other Worcestershire libraries. Click here to check availability and check it out.